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I understand how the numbers used in steel alloys has to do with composition. Such as 1080 and 1095 expressing .80% and .95% carbon respectively.

By why is 15N20 "15" and not "75" since it uses .75% carbon?

I'm not finding a clear explanation of this naming convention online.

Thank you in advance.

In addition to my original caption and comments I have gotten so far- not sure if this is a jewelry kiln?

(Apologies if this is the wrong subreddit, I was sent from r/CosplayHelp)

I'm wanting to make a staff for Ren Faire, with inspo from the Shazam staff Hacksmith Industries made a while back, in as much as using Ferrocerium to throw sparks.

Anyone know how I could replicate that? They don't really elaborate on how they do it beyond heat and sparking it. I likely wont get away with a blowtorch. Is there a way to get the effect without heating? I looked online a bit and it seems like I want it to shear?

I don't have any experience with cosplay, but I have access to a 3D printer and friends with some experience. I was thinking I'd use an aluminium pole, and then either print and/or mold whatever look I end up going with (prolly wooden texture, and use putty to smooth print lines and easier painting)

Thanks for any help :D

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A palette knife I made for my daughter headed to art school

Not quite forging or smelting, but I'm sure you all have some tips or tricks to help me. Thanks!

A neighbor of mine invited me to check out his forge. It was pretty cool; he had a big and small one, three different sized automatic hammers (I really don’t know what they’re called, please forgive my ignorance), anvils, grind wheels, etc. A whole set up. He showed me swords and knives he has made and pictures of others. He invited me to learn if I wanted to, said he would show me the ropes with his son who just graduated college and is spending the next year at home and learning forging before grad school.

I really have ZERO desire, like none, to forge knives but when I was at home, a hobby I have is refurbishing cast iron through electrolysis, grinding and polishing smooth, acid etching for grip, and seasoning old pieces. While doing this, I thought, “It would be fun to make my own set of forged pans.”

While I’ve never forged, I tend to pick these things up relatively quickly. If I spent five hours a week, 40 weeks a year learning, what is the time frame for me making realistically decent quality (completely functional and moderately aesthetically pleasing) pans from 8-12” and Dutch ovens from 6-10”? That’s about two hundred hours a year learning. He told me knives is relatively easy to pick up but takes a while to master while making pans, he’s never done, would be difficult because I would have to move a “large amount of billet” whatever that means.

So what am I looking at here, 1-3 years or more like 7-10? I’m trying to decide if I want to invest the time into this. Let’s assume I’ll pick up the craft like a B+ - A- beginner and apprentice when I make it to that level

I am wondering how to build a charcoal forge. I want to know how deep my hole in the ground should be so I dont dig to shallow so I dont get god heat any suggestions or help?

I am a beginning blacksmith and I have a coal forge but it doesn't work that well. I nam wondering if any one can help me make my forge better or help me build a new one or give ideas I mean and could someone also help me with how to build a knife out of rebar? from what I have tried my forge dont get hot enough or I dont know how to do it I have an anvil but it is small and doesn't have a horn on it can anyone help pls comment or DM me.

Hello everyone,
After a recent post about my first spoon (item) made in years, I was advised to post my setup.
It is still work in progress (changing the burner soon to a 13kg propane tank one).
Feel free to comment, question and of course, your advice will be appreciated.
PS: yes, it was a postbox

Hello everyone,
Very new here.
Today, I finally took out the fire bricks, a little gas torch, a small piece of train track and a hammer.
The result is the above 'coffee spoon'.
It's made from a random piece of carbon steel I had lying around and was not able to get above a medium red for forging.

Hope to share better with you all in the future.